Boy, did we draw the ire of New Jersey Devils fans. Maybe their No. 4 ranking is due to the aversion we have to spending two weeks flying in and out of Newark for the Stanley Cup finals. Either that or we're having trouble staying awake during their games.

The Devils should be No. 1. They have not gone longer than one game the entire year without earning at least a point. Their longest losing streak has
been three games -- and the loss in the middle was in overtime. They are the model of consistency and currently are tied in the race for the President's Trophy. What more do you need?

Sean McCauley
Mahwah, N.J.

You and the All-Star voters continue to dis New Jersey. But who's playing better than them right now? Nobody! That's OK. They are going to quietly win their third championship. Count on it!

John McMahon
Parker, Colo.

Are you kidding me? Once again, New Jersey is given no respect! 12-0-1-1 in their last 14 games and yet they remain behind Vancouver (who they
have more points than) and Ottawa? How do you figure that? The team is allowing less than two goals a game. If Martin Brodeur doesn't win the Vezina this year, he never will. And it will only show once again how the Devils are the least respected team in the league.

Brian Ross
Franklin Park, N.J.

How can you put the Flyers at No. 9 after they won 10 of 11??? True they are more inconsistent than my performance after five pina coladas, but they are scoring and winning more than losing. Injuries beside, the Flyboys are the team to beat in the the East.

John Wiber
Gladwyn, Pa.

To put the Stars, Senators, Canucks and Devils ahead of the Flyers is understandable. To put the Blues and Red Wings ahead of the Flyers is debatable but acceptable. BUT to put the Maple Leafs and Oilers ahead of them is moronic. Are you from Canada or are you just making sure you have a safe haven to flee to in case war breaks out ??

Barry
Tampa, Fla.

I can't believe you shafted the Ducks again. This is craziness. They just moved into the 8th spot in the West with a win over the Flames. They have three straight wins and are 8-2-0-1 in their last 11 games. They have the ninth fewest goals against, the seventh-best power play, and the third-best penalty kill. They also have the best faceoff percentage in the league. They slumped for a while, but they've been one of the best teams in the league for a few weeks now. It makes no sense to me that the power rankings rank the Ducks out of the playoffs.

David
Berkeley, Calif.

Wow, I'm shocked you don't have our 'Canes ranked last yet. The worst part is we have no talent left in the minors to bring up, or any players anyone wants in a trade for us to improve. We're not slumping, we've already collapsed.

Adam
Raleigh, N.C.

I don't know why you guys keep ranking Ottawa so high. They always blow it when the playoffs (i.e. THE REAL SEASON) begin. That' when teams like Jersey, Colorado and the hometown Red Wings (hell, even St. Louis) show the Ottawas of the league what determination and grit really are.

Thomas Puro
San Diego

Thanks for finally noticing the recently good play of the lowly Thrashers down here in Atlanta. By the way, what were the Avalanche thinking when they fired Bob Hartley?

Jarrett Simpson
Atlanta

Great list throughout, but what did Vancouver ever do to be listed so high? The Rangers should be dead last. Any team that spends that much and
still stinks should start out with a handicap.

Rick A. White
Fairfield, N.J.

This doesn't have all that much to do with your ranking, but ... it's sad that during an entertaining All-Star Game where a Canadian boy showed the world his talent, around 60 percent of the participants were Canadian most of the talk was centered around the viability of Canadian teams. Then finally your new rankings come out and four of the top in eight are Canadian teams. Too bad that success doesn't equal profits in today's NHL. September 2004 can't come
soon enough for me, hopefully the discrepancies will then be dealt with and teams like my Oilers can make money and be a good team.